Dispensing carton



March 8, 1960 H. N. NELSON` 2,927,714

DIsPx-:NsING CARTON Filed Sept. 6. 1955 @y www@ esf United States PatentO" DISPENSING CARTON Howard N. Nelson, Neenah, Wis., asslgnor toKimberly- Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis., a corporation of DelawareApplication September 6, 1955, vSerial No. 532,481

2 Claims. (Cl. 22148) vThe present invention relates to a dispensingcarton for sheet material which is arranged in a stack so as to beself-feeding, as the sheets are withdrawn from the stack, and it hasespecial utility in connection with interfolded tissues of the typegenerally referred to as facial or cleansing tissues. More particularly,this application is directed to the dispensing carton described in mypending application Serial No. 511,560, tiled May 27, 1955, and toimprovements therein, and the present application is acontinuation-in-part of such earlier application which has beenabandoned in favor of the present application.

In the packaging of sheet material which is to be dispensed one at atime, it is desirable to use a carton which is provided with arelatively narrow sheet dispensing opening and to have the sheetsarranged in a stack within the carton so that as each sheet is withdrawnit causes the succeeding sheet to follow and remain partiallyextendingrthrough the dispensing opening. Restricting the area of thesheet dispensing opening is important for sanitary reasons, it beingundesirable to have any great portion of the stack of sheets exposed tocollect dirt etc. The feature of having a self-feeding arrangementforthe several sheets in the stack is an obvious convenience.

One difliculty that is encountered in the packaging of sheets of thetype referred to above, particularly with larger packs of tissues andthe like, is the satisfactory accommodation of bulk variation of thetissues. The amount of moisture in the surrounding atmosphere plays animportant part in determining the bulk of a package of sheets, and thisbulk may vary quite widely. Consequently, it is desirable to provide acarton whichcan accommodate this bulk variation in a given number ofsheets, without having the pack too loose in the carton when the bulk islow and yet will permit proper withdrawalof the sheets, one at a time,when the bulk is high and the pack presses against the top of thecarton.

Still another problem which arises with dispensing cartons is thetendency of such cartons to rupture or tear along the dispensingopening, particularly at the ends thereof.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedcarton for dispensing tissue sheets and the like, which affords asolution to the above stated problems through the provision of a novelform of dispensing opening. More particularly, it is an object of thisinvention to provide a carton having a novel form of dispensing opening,which is particularly effective in relieving the pressure on the top ofvthe opened carton when the bulk of the sheets is high, and whichresists the tendency of the carton to tear in the region of thedispensing opening.

The selected embodiment of the invention is illustrated taken along theline 3-3 in Fig. 2;

'v taining less than the specied number of sheets.

2,927,714 Patented Mar. 8 1960 ICC Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carton shown in thepreceding figures.

The present invention is particularly advantageous and concerned withuse with relatively large size packages of tissues, i.e. thosecontaining a relatively large number of folded sheets of cleansingtissues and the like, which are subject to considerable variation inbulk due to atmospheric conditions and handling. The invention also hasspecial utility in packages ofsheet material, wherein the sheets areinterfolded or otherwise arranged for sequential self-feeding with eachsheet being made accessible through the dispensing opening by movementof th preceding sheet.` Consequently, the invention is described withrespect tol a relatively large package containing interfolded tissuesheets. It should be noted, however, that certain of the disclosedfeatures are of more general utility and may be used advantageously inother types of cartons and with other types of sheet material.

With products such as cleansing or facial tissuesfthe atmosphericconditions, particularly humidity,'and the method of handling theproduct in its formation and packaging greatly affect its bulk.Consequently, `a stack of tissues containing, for example 200 double-plysheets provide a carton on the basis of the greatest expected bulk, in`view of the wide variation, since the minimum size package will then betoo loose in the carton and will convey to the customer the impressionof con- It is desirable and customary, therefore, to provide cartons ofa size which accommodate average bulk tissue.

When high bulk tissue is made, and a substantial amount of all tissue isin this classification, the cartons are very tightly filled, and it isvery difficult to open the ,carton without damaging it and to withdraw`the upper tissues without tearing them. This problem increases with thenumber of tissues in the package, since the pressure exerted by thetissues on the top of the carton increases accordingly and makes it moredifficult to separate and remove the top few tissues.

The packaged tissues are desirably interfolded so as to make possiblesequential, one-at-a-time feeding` of the tissues from the carton. Inone of the more popular types of interfolding, each individual tissue,which is usually of duplex construction, is folded intermediate itslength in contact with a second tissue, in such-relationship that thefold `in one tissue essentially coincides with the severance line in theother tissue. By this arrangement, the withdrawal of one tissue Vmoves aportion of the next adjacent tissue through the dispensing lopening inthe carton and makes possible the desired convenient, one-at-a-timefeeding. The sequential feeding of the sheets is additionally assured,in one instance, by providing avery light bond between thc tissues. Thisbond aids in pulling the succeeding sheet from the carton, but it iseasily broken to separate the uppermost sheet from the stack. v i

It is difficult, however, in utilizing known typesV of dispensingcartons to maintain sequential feeding when the tissues gettlow vin thetbox, particularly with stacks having greater than about to 200 doubleply, single folded sheets, that is, 300 to 400 single sheets in a stack.In the known types of cartons, there is a tendency for the tissues tofall back into the box after theV top sheet has been Separatedffmm the'PaCk, and' in4 the r 3- boxes it is difficult to reach the tissues nearthe bottom of the box once they have dropped back into the box.

The present invention overcomes both of the abovementioned difficultiesand provides a carton which can snugly accomodate either high bulk orlow bulk tissue Without hampering the withdrawal of the initial sheets,while maintaining the proper sequential feeding of the tissuesthroughout the entire pack. Further, the present invention facilitatesthe opening of the carton and provides better access to the tissuestack, if such becomes necessary for any reason, without exposing anygreat area of the stack when the carton is in its open condition.

With reference nowv to the drawings, wherein the selected embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated, it is seen that there is provided a cartonhaving a dispensing opening 12 defined in the top of the carton. Moreparticularly, as seen in Figure 5, the carton is formed from a generallyrectangularly-shaped, paperboard blank 14 having fold or crease lines 16therein defining the bottom 18, top 20, and a pair of side walls orpanels 22 and 24. Each of these walls include tab portions at oppositeends thereof for forming the ends of the carton, and there is alsoprovided a narrow strip 28 adjacent the free side of the bottom-deliningwall 1810i the blank to atord means for securing the bottom to the sidewall 24.

The access opening 12 is shown as being formed by perforate lines inthetop panel 20, which define a removable section of parallelogramconfiguration, and a pair of generally parallel lines 32 and .34, forman extension ofthe opposite ends of the removable section '30* tocomplete the dispensing opening. In the illustrated form the lines 32and 34 extend in the general direction of the opposite corners of thetop panel and terminate short of the ends of the carton adjacent thosediagonally opposite corners, as illustrated, but do not extend to thecorners. In this respect, it is desirable that the angles deiined alongthe edges of the dispensing opening be greater than 90 degrees, so as toavoid sharp comers which might resist easy withdrawal of the tissues ortear the sheets. Further, it is desirable that the dispensing opening bearranged in a geometrically balanced form with respect to both thelongitudinal and transverse axes of the carton top with one half of thedispensing opening being identical in configuration with the other halfof the opening but being disposed in the reverse manner f with respectto the longitudinal axis of the carton top. In this Way the withdrawalof a tissue exerts a balanced force on the carton top and, consequently,does not tend to tip over the carton.

The ends of the lines 32 and 34 extend into the adjoining end flaps 26,as indicated at and 42 respectively, and these end extensions of thedispensing opening 12 attord considerable advantages, both with respectto the prevention of any tearing of the carton and in affordingllexibility of the carton to relieve the pressures thereon due to thetissue bulk.

The end cuts 40 and 42 may be disposed at any position along the ends ofthe carton, but are preferably not placed at thel corners of the carton.Of course, the opening deining lines 32 and 34 are placed accordingly,so that the cuts 40 and 42 are a continuation of such lines.Furthermore, it is believed most desirable for the cuts 40 and 42 toextend in inclined relation to the end edge 44 of the carton, althoughthese cuts may be normal to the edge 44 and still be advantageous. The

inclined disposition of the cuts 40 and 42 offers betterr flexing of thecarton after it has been opened. And, in this latter respect, it shouldbe noted that with the use of the end cuts 40 and 42 it is possible toachieve adequate flexing of the carton to accommodate high bulk tissueand permit normal withdrawal of the top sheets, while retaining thedispensing opening in fairly close and generally parallel relation tothe longitudinal axis of the carton. This is desirable in that itprovides .cleansing tissues and the like, it is customary to have thebers in the paperboard extending transversely of the length of the box,otherwise the carton will not have a well defined shape and besufficiently rigid. This necessary arrangement of the bers, however,makes the paperboard relatively weak in the direction of the fibers.Consequently, there is a tendency for the carton to tear along thedirection of the fibers, when the carton is opened and/or during use ofthe carton as a tissue dispenser. The greatest source of diiculty inthis respect is at the endsr of the dispensing opening, where therefrequently occurs a transverse tearing of the paperboard carton. Thistendency to tear is virtually eliminated in the illustrated opening bythe provision of the end cuts 40 and 42 which, partially through theirpermitting more liexing of the carton top 20 and partially through theirdisposition in the end panels 26 transversely of the liber direction,are most effective in confining the carton opening to the line dened bythe cut 30 and in preventing any tearing of the carton top.

It is also to be noted that, in the formation of a carton from the blankshown in Fig. 5, the tabs 45, which extend from opposite ends of theside walls 22 and 24, have their upper edges immediately beneath the endfolds 44 (Figs. 1 and 2) of the carton top 20. Consequently, these tabedges provide a support or bearing along the end fold lines 44 andprevent much of the downward pressure which may be exerted on the cartontop 20 from being directed along the dispensing opening to the endpanels 26. This feature, in conjunction with the ilexibility aflorded bythe end cuts 40 and 42 and the disposition of the latter transversely ofthe ber direction, helps to preserve the carton intact through theopening of the carton and the subsequent repeated usage of the carton asa tissue dispenser.

In opening the box, the perforate lines in the top panel 20 are brokenand the section 30 removed to permit access to the top tissue. If astarter sheet of heavier paper is used, such starter sheet isl disposedwith one edge underlying the removable section 30 so that it may bereadily grasped and withdrawn to pull the top sheet from the box. Itwill be noted that, although the removable section 30 is of less lengththan the box, the top panel 20 is broken across its entire lengthv byvirtue of the lines 32 and 34 and the end cuts 40 and 42 forming theremainder of the dispensing opening 12. This is an important feature ofthe carton for the reason that it is automatically effective, on theopening of the carton, to relieve the top 20 of a considerable amount ofthe pressure exerted by they tissue pack. At the same time it exposesonly a very small area of the pack.

With the foregoing arrangement, the top of the carton is essentiallydivided lengthwise, into two relatively narrow sections which are quiteflexible, particularly because of the end cuts 40 and 42, and whichyield more readily to the pressure of the tissue pack. This further aidsin 'making it easier to withdraw the top tissues without tearing.

As the top tissue is withdrawn from the carton, it is drawn not onlythrough the elongated, slotted opening 31, formed by removal of thesection 30, but also through the cuts deued by the lines 32 and 34.Since the latter are formed by single line performations, the adjoiningedges of the top panel remain in substantial These abutting edges arequite tlexible and permit free withdrawal of the tissue. When thetension on the sheet is released, however, they return to a generallycoplanar disposition and grasp the projecting sheet between theirabutting edges, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. This featureis important inpreventing the sheet which is to be used next from falling back'into thebox, and `is particularly advantageous where a'relatively deep'ca'rtonis employed.

It is also important to note that the angular disposition of the lines32 and 34, with respect to the access opening 30, is elective inproviding a curve in the upstanding portion of the tissue which projectsbeyond the dispensing and access opening. This adds rigidity to thesheet which helps maintain it in the extended form seen in Figure 2.Thus the sheet is maintained readily accessible at all times and doesnot tend to lay across the top of the box, as is the natural tendency ofthe limp sheets ordinarily used for cleansing tissues and the like.

It is seen, therefore, that there is provided bythe present invention anovel form of carton which is particularly advantageous in thedispensing of separable sheet material, such as cleansing tissues andthe like, which is interfolded or otherwise arranged for sequentialfeeding. The disclosed arrangement for a dispensing opening permitsexing of the carton to relieve the pressure on the tissues so that theymay be easily withdrawn without tearing, while maintaining a maximumamount of permanent coverage for the packaged tissues. Furthermore, thedisclosed form of opening provides a disposition of the sheets,generally along the longitudinal center line of the carton, which aidsappreciably in keeping the upper tissue in extended relation to the box,where it can be readily grasped and withdrawn for use. It is also seenthat the arrangement of the cuts 40 and 4Z. at the ends of thedispensing openingV 12 is of considerable advantage in preventing anytearing of the carton along the opening, other than along the linesdefining such opening, and in improving the llexibility of the carton toaccommodate high bulk and relieve the pressure on the top panelV oncethe carton is opened. As indicated above, the cuts 40 and 42 aredisposed transversely of the direction of the fibers in the paperboardand, therefore, provide for exing of the top panel in a manner utilizingthe maximum strength of the carton to resist the normal tendency of thedispensing'opening to tear beyond its dei-ined limits when subjected topressure.

The invention is not limited in its application to any particular mannerof providing for self-feeding of the sheets or any particular type ofinterfolding and can be used to advantage with any of the knownarrangements.

Although shown and described with respect to a particular embodiment, itwill be apparent that other modications might readily be made to securethe advantages of the invention without departing from the principlesthereof. It should also be understood that the top panel referred to inthe disclosure is the panel from which the tissue is dispensed and,therefore, ymay be what might otherwise be considered a bottom, side orend panel in a particular arrangement. Further, while certain advantagesare gained by providing a perforated line for the dispensing opening, acomplete cut or another form of partial severance may also be used. Inthis respect, it is preferred that the ends 40 and 42 of the dispensingopening be in the form of a cut extending across the line of the foldand may be either normal to or inclined with respect to the direction offibers in the paperboard carton. While the cuts 40 and 42 may bedisposed anywhere intermediate the end corners of the carton, it isbelieved generally desirable to place it in the middle one-third of theend, in order to thereby avoid extending the dispensing opening too farolf the center line of the carton. It is also desirable to avoid scoringor pre-creasing of the carton blank in the path of the end cuts 40 and42.

It will be apparent that ing openings may readily be made whichincorporate one or Vmore Vof the features discussed with -respect to theillustrated embodiment, without departing from the principles of thisinvention. For example,` it should be understood that, Whereas thepresent invention `is particularly directed to the feature of extendingthe access opening into the adjoining panels along a line transverselyof the fiber lay in the paperboard carton, this invention is notdependent upon a particular form of dispensing opening'. A singley cutmay readily be employed which extends across one panel and a relativelyshort distance into each of the two adjoining panels, without providinga removable portion for the dispensing opening, and still gain certainof the advantages of this invention.

l claim:

1. In combination with a stack of sheets which are inter-folded toprovide sequential feeding of each of the sheetsfrom the stack inresponse to movement of the immediately overlying sheet away from thestack, a'dispensng carton comprising means defining the wal-ls of agenerally rectangularly-shaped box having top, bottom, side and endpanels, and means defining the outline of a Vdispensing opening in thetop panel of said carton, said opening defining means-including aremovable portion of the top panel for providing ay longitudinallyextending parallelogram opening generally centrally located in said toppanel and having its ends spaced inwardly a substantial distance fromthe end edges of said top panel, means forming a single line perforationwhich extends from one end of said longitudinal opening in the directionVof one of the corners of said top panel, and means forming a secondsingle line perforation which extends from the other end of saidlongitudinal opening in the direction of a diagonally opposite corner ofsaid top panel with respect to said one corner, whereby displacement ofsaid removable portion from the box and the opening of said linearperforations affords flexing of said top panel and provides means forsequential feeding of said sheets from the box in a manner such that,when the leading one of said sheets is pulled through saidlongitudinally extending opening and is separated from the stack, theperforated cuts in said top panel are eifective to hold the succeedingsheet in fixed, extende relation to the box. f

V2. In combination with a stack of sheets which are inter-folded toprovide sequential feeding of each of the sheets from the stack inresponse to movement of the immediately overlying sheet away from thestack, a dispensing carton comprising means dening the walls of agenerally rectangularly-shaped box having top, bottom, side and endpanels, and means defining the outline of a dispensing opening in thetop panel of said carton, said opening defining `means including aremovable portion of the top panel for providing a longitudinallyextending parallelogram opening generally centrally located in said toppanel and having its ends spaced inwardly a substantial distance fromthe end edges of said top panel, means forming a single line perforationvwhich extends from one end of said longitudinal opening in thedirection of one of the corners of said top panelV and which extendswithin the adjacent end panel, and means forming a second single lineperforation which extends from the other end of said longitudinalopening in the direction of a diagonally opposite corner of said toppanel with respect to said one corner and which extends within theadjacent end panel, whereby displacement of said removable portion fromthe box and the opening of said linear perforations affords flexing ofsaid top panel and provides means for sequential feeding of said sheetsother'forms of dispens-l box.

the succeeding sheet in fixed, extended relation to the References Citedin the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thompson Mar. 24, 1931Hope Sept. 20, 1932 8 Hofmaster et al. Apr. 11, 1944 Buttery Sept.17,1946 Weiss Ian. 1, 1952 Baxter Mar. 16, 1954 Nudell Sept. 14, 1954Nelson June 24, 1958 Nelson June 24, 1958

